From Boys State to Nation: Somersworth youth one of only 98 to take part at highest level of program

Thursday

Jul 31, 2008 at 3:15 AM

By JENNIFER KEEFE

SOMERSWORTH — The motto for the American Legion Boys Nation, "A Week to Shape a Lifetime," sounded "corny" at first to 17-year-old Alex Rouleau.

But after participating in the Washington, D.C.-based program that gives participants an insight into the operation of federal government, he said it couldn't be more accurate.

"It's true," confirmed Rouleau from his home Wednesday, just days after returning from the weeklong experience. "It gives you a new motivation."

Rouleau, who said he has always been interested in politics — but never more than he is now after attending Boys State and Boys Nation — was recommended for Boys State by High School history teacher Dana Hilliard. Only four students from the school were recommended for the opportunity.

Boys State, a precursor to Boys Nation, was an experience Rouleau said he would have taken a lot away from even if he'd never been chosen to attend Boys Nation. As part of the state program housed at Rivier College in Nashua, Rouleau and others divided into towns and cities to learn how to run a municipal government.

Rouleau was elected mayor by the other students in his "city," a title that carried the same responsibilities as an actual Mayor.

"We made a city charter and raised taxes," he said, adding his friend was a city clerk and had even more work to do in putting together the pages for the budget and charter. "We learned how to run a city government."

After that experience, the students broke into parties and held state elections. Rouleau was elected governor, a position he was happy to accept.

"I figured I could help shape the program better if I were governor," he said, adding his responsibilities increased to making the state budget and making many appointments.

His hard work during Boys State paid off quickly when he found out he was one of only 98 students chosen to go to Boys Nation from the more than 25,000 who participated in Boys State.

He said he was surprised at the honor because "there were so many kids who were so qualified."

And Boys Nation was "incredible," he said.

Rouleau not only toured the monuments, the capital building and the White House, but was able to meet Sen. Hillary Clinton and other senators and representatives, and also President George Bush.

"It was very cool," he said, adding that very few people have the opportunity to meet so many dignitaries.

After hearing a holocaust survivor urge the students to "always try to make a difference," Rouleau said the advice will stick with him as he moves forward in life. The high school senior is looking to apply at Boston College, McGill University in Montreal and College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He hopes to major in political science. "I kind of want to be a lawyer or a politician," he added.

For now, he seems to be on the fast track to political experience, and success. During Boys Nation, he wrote a bill that would regulate pharmaceutical ads in the media to try and re-establish doctor/patient relationships. He came up with the idea on his own and it only failed by one vote. Even though it failed, he said he was proud because "most bills didn't even make it to being discussed."

His mother, Janice Miller, said she is "very proud" of everything her son accomplished.

"I'm really impressed that he went in to a group of people he didn't know and they elected him their governor," she said of Boys State.

In his free time, Rouleau said he reads a lot, plays football, skis, is captain of the school track team and is a member of both the Interact Club and the Somersworth Social Skills group. But when it comes to Boys Nation, Rouleau was all business and said the experienced opened his mind.

"We were doing it just like the senators were doing it," he said. "It was interesting to see all these kids from all over the country. We're all different but we're there for the same reason; a passion to lead. They will be our leaders someday."